Connecter



Aug. 16, 1932. E. o. SCHJOLIN CONNECTER Filed Nov. 9, 1929 gwventoa Patented Aug. 16, 1932 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1310 01133 SGEJOLIN', OB BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB TO YELLOW TRUCK l5 COACH IANUFACTUBING COMPANY, OF PONTIAC, IICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OI [LINE oomc'rnn Application mm November 9, 1929. Serial in. 405,946.

This invention relates to the mounting of panels. It is particularly. intended for attaching what are known in trade as plymetal panels and which consist of laminated wood sheets sheathed in sheet metal and sealed at their edges against the entrance of moisture. Unless pro er precaution is taken to prevent exposure, t e thin wood plies absorb moisture and become swollen, separated and warped, and this distorts the panel and strains or breaks down its fastening attachments.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved mounting for the panels which will not only prevent moisture reaching the wood, but Wlll also afford a water-proof joint.

Another object is to rovide an improved attachment element w ich will distribute clamping stress over a comparatively large bearing area and prevent the concentration of the strains and distortion of the panel or separation of the wood plies at the point of attachment, and which will project but slightly beyond the plane of the panel and at its edges substantially mer e with the panel surface so as to enhance t e appearance of the assembly, eliminate unsightly and abrupt projections and facilitate the treatment of the adjacent surface with paint, or the like, and the manipulation of a polishing tool thereabout.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connecter stud having a preformed and comparatively fiat head that tapers outwardly and inclines downwardly to a thin flexible peripheral edge portion to afford a cavity on the underside of the head for suitable water proofing material so that the peri heral edge portion, upon assembly, makes adyance contact with the panel surface to hold the water proofing material against escape from beneath the head and flexes or bends back as the stud is drawn up, whereby the water proofing material is placed under considerable pressure and a positive seal against leakage is insured.

Additional objects and features of invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompan g drawing illustrating a preferred embo iment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a roof suitable for motor vehicles, or the like, made up of ply-metal panels and showmg a practical application of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of overlapping portions of the panels at a point of attachment.

Figure 3 is a view partly in section of the preformed fastening element.

Figure 4 is a sectional view at an attachment point showing a modified form of connecter.

For the purpose of disclosure, it will be convenient to describe the invention in connection with motor vehicle body panels, although various other uses may be made of it. As to the bodies for passenger coaches and busses, these may be made up by first constructing a skeleton frame and fastening to the frame along the sides and top, a number of plymetal panels which are preferably of long lengths so that each panel will be continuous from front to rear of the body. At suitable intervals, holes may be drilled through the panels for the passage of fastening bolts for attachment with the skeleton frame work. Obviously, these holes leave edges of the wooden plies at the openings, exposed and unless some expedient, as herein described, is employed, the wood will take up moisture and expand or otherwise become deformed.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing, the reference numerals 1-1 indicate a pair of angle iron members constituting a part of the body frame and which support the roofing paneling, consisting in the present instance of a central section 2 and side sections 3-3, the adjacent marginal portions of thesections being laid one on the other in overlapping relation with the centermost section 2 on top and being secured to the angle members 1 by connecters or studs 4 passing through aligned openings or holes drilled through the panels and having clamping elements or nuts 5 adjustably threaded thereon.

As shown in detail in Figure 2, each panel preferably is made up of two or more layers or plies of thin wooden sheets 6 superposed one on the other with their grain extending in different directions and which may be glued together and compressed, as is usual in the veneering art, and this laminated wooden body is enclosed or sheathed in sheet metal coverings 7 on opposite sides thereof with their edge portions bent or turned over one another at the edges of the laminated wood slab as at 8 and soldered together, or otherwise sealed. This provides a comparatively thin but exceptionally sturdy and weather-proof panel and which when assembled, will afford a vehicle body of rugged construction and light weight with comparatively thin heat-resisting walls.

In order to prevent moisture reaching the exposed edges at the bolt openings, it is proposed to fashion the head 9 of the connecter stud 4 relatively large and of circular outline with the underside thereof concave to receive a predetermined amount or wad of suitable water-proofing material or cement, preferably in a plastic or semi-fluid condition and which is held in the cavity and placed under pressure when the nut 5 is drawn up so as to flow into and completely fill any clearance space beneath the head and between the shank of the stud and exposed wooden edges at the bolt opening as is indicated at 10. If desired, water-proofing material may also be used between the abutting surfaces of the overlapping panel portions.

To preclude escape of the water-proofing material from beneath the head 9 during the application of clamping pressure and to obtain a maximum degree of pressure thereon, the head is preformed as shown in Figure 3, as gradually tapering outwardly'and extending downwardly to afford a comparatively thin and more or less flexible peripheral edge portion. This peripheral edge portion makes advance contact with the panel surface as the nut is drawn up on the stud and holds the plastic material against expulsion from beneath the head and upon continued adjustment of the nut, the thin edge portion flexes or bends back and tends to flatten out against the adjacent panel surface, allowing the head to be drawn further down so that additional pressure is placed on the plastic material. It will be noted also that the thin edge of the bolt head substantially merges with the tention and treatment and frequent replacements.

Instead of providing an exterior thread on the shank of the connecter stud as in the construction heretofore described and in which case the threads on the end of the shank beyond the nut are exposed, it may be deslrable in some instances to employ the arrangement shown in Figure 4, to lend an improved appearance to the connection from the interior of the coach. According to F igure 4, the shank 12, extending through the ply-metal anels, is interiorly threaded and the fastening bolt or stud 13 rojects up through the supporting frame for engagement with the interiorly threaded shank. The structure is otherwise as before described.

I claim:

1. A connecter of the class described, having a shank and a relatively flat head, that tapers outwardly to a feather edge at its periphery, the edge extending initially below the underside of the head to provide a cavity to receive a sealing material and being flexible to bend out when the head is drawn in whereby the edge portion first seals the sealing material against escape and then flattens out to allow the sealing material to be packed tightiy beneath the head.

2. n combination, a panel having an opening therein to receive a fastener, a fastener comprising a head and a shank adapted to a screw threaded portion, a retainer element adjustably engageable with said screw threaded shank portion, said head having a flat flexible rim portion and a recessed underside, plastic sealing material on the underside of the head held against escape by the contact of the flat rim portion with the panel and packed tightly by the flexing of the rim portion when the retainer is adjusted to draw the head against the panel.

3. In combination, a panel having an opening, a connecter having a portion projected through the opening to mount the panel and a head exteriorly of the panel, plastic sealing material beneath the head to seal the panel opening, and a flat flexible rim portion on the head adapted to make advance contact with the panel to retain the sealing material under the head and then yield to permit further movement of the head to compact the plastic material thereunder.

, pass through the opening and provided with 4. A connecter stud having a shank to project through an openinfi in a panel and a head on the stud and bein c aracterized by a flexible rim on the hea projectin inwardly of the underside of the main b0 y of the head to define a recess for a plastic sealin material and being adapted for outward nding upon contact with the panel to reduce the size of the recess for compacting the plastic sealing material.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature.

ERIC OLLE SC J OLIN. 

